- Several towns and communities at risk
- Officials blame excessive rainfall and non-implementation of environmental guidelines and inadequate infrastructure.
Floods in Nigeria have killed at least 300 people this year and the situation could worsen due to heavy rainfall and the effects of excess water from a dam in Cameroon that will affect 14 Nigerian states, The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said.
Checks by NOHR show that Nigeria is battling its worst floods in a decade with more than 300 people killed in 2022 including at least 40 in the past month. Government officials are admitting that the situation is getting out of hand control.
According to NEMA, there are flooding in 27 of Nigeria’s 36 states which has affected half a million people and displaced 100,000 people. The disaster has also destroyed thousands of hectares of farmland, worsening fears of a disruption of food supply in the country.
“Since 2012, this is the highest we ever had,” said Manzo Ezekiel, a spokesperson for the disaster management agency.
Nigeria records flooding every year often as a result of non-implementation of environmental guidelines and inadequate infrastructure. Authorities blame this year’s flood on water overflowing from some local rivers, unusual rainfalls and the release of excess water from Lagdo dam in neighbouring Cameroon’s northern region.
NEMA had predicted more floods in 2022 than last year due to “excessive rainfalls and contributions from external flows” such as the dam in Cameroon. Earlier in September, NEMA alerted states of “serious consequences” in the coming weeks by more than a dozen states as two of the country’s dams have started to overflow.
The floods have also destroyed crops in many farmlands mostly in Northern and Middle Belt region often regarded as the food basket of the nation. A summary of the flooding situation across several state across Nigeria shows the devastating effect on ordinary population
Delta State: Two Die In Delta As Heavy Down Pour Causes Flooding
Residents of many flood-prone communities in Delta State are groaning as their areas have been submerged following two days of heavy torrential downpours.
The early morning heavy downpours, which lasted for several hours last week disrupted business activities while many students, soaked in their uniforms, were sighted returning home as they found it difficult to get commercial buses and tricycles to convey them to their destinations.
Mostly affected areas, according to PUNCH, included the popular Ginuwa community in Warri South Local Government Area as well as some streets in Oduma Layout, off new Okpe road, former Cranefield road, and the Red Beret Police Road notably parts of Jeddo, Ughoton, Ugbokodo and other neighbouring communities in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.
Three persons were also killed in the flood-ravaged Toko community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State last week. The flooding also pulled down houses, rendering the occupants homeless. It was learned that in the process of escaping the flood, the victims’ boat capsized and three drowned.
Anambra State: I Dead , 651,053 Displaced As Food Ravage Anambra Communities
On Ginikanwa Izuob was confirmed dead in the Enugu-Otu, Aguleri flood.
NEMA spokesman said Izuoba died when his house collapsed due to the impact of the flood. He also said at least 651,053 persons in six local government areas of the state had so far been displaced by flooding.
According to the figures released by the agency, Ogbaru had the highest number of victims with 286,000 persons while Anambra West and East Local Government Areas (LGAs) followed with 237,000 and 103,000 victims, respectively. Awka North LGA had 10,345 victims, while Ayamelum had 9,240 flood cases with 5,468 displaced persons.
Nassarawa: Flood Displaces Over 2,000 In Nasarawa Communities
Flooding has displaced more than 2,000 persons in communities in the Doma Local Government council in Nasarawa State according to the Chairman Ahmed Sarki-Usman,
NAN reported that Sarki-Usman spoke last Friday during an assessment visit to the affected communities. The incident happened on September 20. He said his visit was to ascertain the level of damage caused by the flood to report the situation to the state government for necessary action.
“It is unfortunate that the flood destroyed houses, farmlands, produce and other valuables worth millions of naira. Many inhabitants of the area affected by the flood have deserted their homes and are now camping at primary schools as temporary sites. What my people are facing is completely devastating,’’ he lamented.
Ogun State: Border Community Cries Out Over Opening Oyan River Dam
Worried by flood threat as a result of the opening of Oyan River dam in Abeokuta, residents of Denro -Ishashi community, an Ogun border town, have called on the state government to speed up the ongoing construction of Denro bridge in the area.
The entire stretch of road from Kosoko to Akute has been impassable as a result of bad road, exacerbated by flood. The residents, who are victims of the yearly flood during the rainy season, said the poor state of the environment worsened by the opening of the dam is affecting their means of livelihood. “Erosion has since redesigned the road, while the opening of the Abeokuta dam has worsened the situation.
“Every year, the road becomes impassable for up to two, three months because of a failed bridge constructed over one of the tributaries of River Ogun that connects Kara on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, during which the water overflows, making human and vehicular traffic impossible” a concerned resident told newsmen
North East: Farmers count losses, as flood ravages 150,000 hectares in N/East
NAN reports that Farmers in the Northeast have called for urgent intervention to avert hunger as flood ravages over 150,000 hectares of farmlands.
The farmers, who expressed concern over large-scale destruction of produce, said the damage caused by the disaster could be estimated at over N30 billion.
They said urgent interventions were necessary to mitigate the effects of the disaster, reduce hunger and encourage development of adapting climate change technologies to enhance food security.
The farmers made the call while responding to a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the effects of flood in Bauchi, Damaturu, Dutse, Gombe, Maiduguri and Yola. According to official data, the flood killed over 100 persons, destroyed hundred of thousands hectares of farmlands, displaced thousands of people, and cut off several roads across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, and Jigawa states.
In Jigawa, the disaster-ravaged 138,442.36 hectares of farmlands, displaced 1,554 farming communities, and killed over 90 persons across 22 local government areas of the state. The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Awwalu Danladi said the government had constituted an assessment committee, which examined the extent of damage caused by the disaster.
He said the flood destroyed farm produce such as rice, sorghum, millet, groundnut, sugarcane, sesame, cowpea, and beans, among others. He listed the affected areas to include Dutse; Birnin Kudu, Kiyawa, Buji, Miga, Jahun, Gwaram, Ringim, Garki, and Taura. Others were Hadejia; Kirikasamma, Guri, Kafinhausa, Auyo, Malammadori, Kaugama, Kazaure, Babura, Roni, Gwiwa and Yankwashi.
He said the committee recommended the construction of reservoirs/dams and embankments, desilting of waterways, erection of diversion spillway channels, and afforestation programme to control perennial flooding in the state.
The committee, he said, also called for the provision of fertilizers, improved seeds, and chemicals to the affected farmers to enable them to engage in dry season activities.
According to statistics of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), indicated that the agency, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) distributed food and non-food items to the victims of the disaster across the state.
Bauchi State: Flood kills 3, damages 1,453 houses in 2 LGAs
3 persons were confirmed dead and 1,453 houses and farmlands damaged in Zaki and Gamawa local government areas of Bauchi state according to the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA).
Dr. Ibrahim Kabir, Director-General of the agency was briefing the governor Governor Bala Mohammed when he paid a sympathy visit to the affected communities last week in Zaki Local Government Area.
“After assessment of the damage caused by a heavy downpour on Wednesday, it was found to have killed 3 persons, damaged 1,453 houses and unquantified farmlands in the two LGAs”. He said the flood also cut off roads linking the two local government areas with communities and some parts of the state in 6 places on the highway.
“As palliative measures, the communities need 14 canoes as means of transportation to cross the cut-off roads to continue their normal businesses,” he said.
No fewer than 400 homes have been submerged by flood and several hectares of farmland washed away in some parts of Pilgani District of Langtang North Local Council of Plateau State following several days of downpour.
Plateau State: 400 Homes, And Farmlands Were Destroyed In Plateau Communities
The communities most affected in the council include Zamadede, Shilur, Pishe, Agwangani, and Galang.
A resident of Zamadede village, Nantip Mallam, said, “everything had been destroyed with over 200 persons displaced following the unfortunate incident.”
“We have received reports of the flooding in the communities and would look into it and ensure that the necessary agencies are contacted so that succour would be provided to our people.We would work out modalities to tackle flooding in our rural communities” Said the council’s Executive Chairman, Rimven Zulfa
Adamawa State: Flood Kills 37 Lives, Submerges 89,000 Farmlands In Adamawa
A heavy downpour across Adamawa State this rainy season has killed 37 lives and submerged 89, 000 hectares of farmlands. Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) which confirmed the human casualty, said 58 other people sustained injuries.
The agency said that in all, 171, 000 persons were affected, while 89, 000 hectares of farmlands were submerged.
The Executive Secretary of ADSEMA, Dr. Muhammad Suleiman, who made the disclosure, said the flood was particularly destructive in Madagali, Fufore, Yola South, Yola North, Girei, Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Guyuk, and Shelleng local government areas.
The ADSEMA boss said in a media interaction at the weekend that households and other structures, such as schools, health centres, marketplaces, and houses of worship were affected.
Kogi State: Three Killed As Flood Displaces Over 50,000 People In Ibaji
At least three persons have been killed and over 500 rendered homeless as River Niger/Benue overflowed its banks and flooded Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, according to the lawmaker representing the Constituency, Atule Egbunu
He said about three persons were also killed in the disaster as the entire local government has been submerged by water. According to Egbunu, thousands of Houses and farmlands have been submerged by the disaster which he described as an “unfortunate annual disaster.”
Kogi state capital city, Lokoja, as well as Ibaji, Omala, Idah, and other parts of the state were recently hit with massive floods that have claimed properties and forced people into IDP camps.
The state governor Yahaya Bello, in a statement issued in Lokoja last Saturday, to commemorate the country’s 62nd independence anniversary, commiserated with the victims of the incident, adding that his administration would consolidate on some of the steps are already taken to mitigate the situation and prevent future re-occurrence.
“Even though we are still mapping the red zones as they develop, the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOGISEMA) and other first responders are already working hard across the state. At-risk communities were informed and encouraged to evacuate long before the flooding began and Internally Displaced Persons Camps were set up and put at their disposal.
“Flooding had affected nine LGAs of Kogi along the Rivers Niger and Benue, including Lokoja, Kogi-Koto, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Igalamela-Odolu, Bassa, Idah, Omala and Ibaji. Flooding in Kogi happens annually and, as such, a lasting solution must be proffered,” Bello said.
Governor Bello said that his administration is working in partnership with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Mkilometers Project (NEWMAP), to construct about four kilometers of embankments along the River Niger with extensive gully erosion control projects in Ankpa, Ogugu, Ozuri, Lokoja, Dekina and other parts of the State.
Edo State: Flood Takes Over 12 Edo Communities, Residents Flee
No less than twelve communities mostly in Etsako Central Local Government Area, Edo North Senatorial district have been submerged by flood as a result of torrential rain in the last few days that has resulted in the River Niger overflowing its banks.
Some of the communities mostly hit are Udaba-Ekphei, Anegbette, Ukpeko Orle, Ofukpo, Agbabu, Osomegbe, Udochi, Yelwa, Ake Island, and Ifeku Islay.
Many of the residents had to flee because the water level in most of the communities is above the window level of their houses while those who managed to move around go in canoes residents say this is the worst flood they have experienced since 2012 when they thought they had seen the worst. Churches, mosques, markets, and schools have all been taken over by flood.
Agricultural produce like rice, cassava, vegetables, potatoes, groundnuts, and others have been completely submerged by the devastating floods.
Benue State: Flood Kills 23, Displaces 116,000 In Benue
No fewer than 23 persons have died as a result of flooding in the state since the beginning of the rainy season according to The Benue State Emergency Management Agency EMA)
NAN reported the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr Manuel Shior saying that 116,084 persons had also been displaced as a result of the flooding in some parts of the state.
Shior said that the 116,084 displaced persons cut across 12,856 households in 11 local government areas. “74 persons are having different degrees of injuries. 14 out of the 23 deaths arose from boat mishap in Guma Local Government Area,” he said.
The executive secretary further stated that the flooding had so far affected 14,040 hectares of farmlands while 4,411 houses had been submerged.“Schools and markets, companies, houses and farmlands located in 104 communities are affected,” he said.
He listed the affected local government areas as, Guma, Vandeikya, Otukpo, Katsina-ala, Makurdi, Apa, Agatu, Tarka, Gbokneednd Logo.”The victims need immediate support. That is the reason for this exercise.”We began with Makurdi and Agatu because they are the worst hit with 34 and 28 affected communities respectively.
”The victims in Agatu who are currently taking refuge along the Federal Highway will soon be relocated to Obagaji,” he said.
Kwara State: Flood Kills 7, Displaces 2,800 Persons In Kwara
Seven persons lost their lives in a devastating flood disaster in different parts of Kwara State this year. The riverine communities in Patigi, Patigi Local Government Area of the state the worst hit by the disaster which has become an annual ritual, said an official of Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa
A total of 1, 300 households and 2, 800 persons were affected in the flood disaster that also submerged large hectares of farmland and houses in Patigi. Yelwa spoke while flagging off the distribution of N50million worth of relief materials to victims of flooding in the state.
The items distributed to the victims included 1,300 mattresses, 500 bags of rice, 200 cartons of bathing soap, and 250 cartons of detergents, among others.
A popular Islamic cleric, Abdulganiy Aboto, and his two aides were among the people who died last Friday in the recent flooding in the state. The corpses of Aboto and his two aides were recovered by the State Fire Service from a river opposite Olusola Saraki Abattoir along Sobi Army Barracks road, Ilorin with a Toyota Yaris Car on Saturday.
